Speaking afterwards, Mr Love's father said: "We are just glad that it's happened. And it means, in a funny sort of way, Theresa May should be glad. Her legacy is intact.

"We previously had been optimistic in the previous court, and that was destroyed.

"It's a vindication. My view is Britain is a great country, and we call it Great Britain because it is a great place to live."

Support for alleged computer hacker Lauri Love outside Royal Courts of Justice in London (Image: SWNS)

Matt Hancock, MP for Newmarket, welcomed the High Court’s decision to accept Lauri Love’s appeal against extradition to the US.

He said: As his constituency MP I’ve supported Lauri in his long battle to avoid extradition to the US. It has been a long and hard process for him and his loving family and I’m delighted this verdict has been reached."

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who is holed up in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London as he avoids arrest, has supported Mr Love, writing on Twitter afterwards: "Extradition to US would be oppressive."

A Supporter dressed as a clown stands outside the court (Image: SWNS)

Outside court, Mr Love's supporters - including one dressed as a clown - blared music out of speakers, chanted "trial at home" and "love you Lauri" and displayed signs reading "free Lauri Love".

Elly Bingham, 21, also of Bury St Edmunds, added: "He always keep a smile on. I wanted to be there to support him."

Alleged computer hacker Lauri Love leads a procession complete with mobile sound system to a press conference at his solicitors' chambers in London after he successfully challenged a ruling that he can be extradited to the US (Image: SWNS)

Mr Love's father Alexander, a prison chaplain, had earlier said his son "fears for his life" because he did not think he could cope with the trauma of being sent to the US.

He said his son had been very distressed and afraid about the outcome.

The father told the BBC: "He has stated on more than one occasion that he fears for his life because he doesn't think he could cope with the trauma of being taken away from his family and his country."

Read More

At a hearing in November, the judges heard argument on Mr Love's behalf that extradition would not be in the "interests of justice" for a number of reasons, including the "high risk" that Mr Love, who suffers from Asperger syndrome, would kill himself.

His legal team had argued he should face charges in the UK, pointing to new rules that make it easier for British courts to try people for crimes committed there but involving other countries.

Lauri Love at a press conference surrounded by his legal team and family (Image: SWNS)

In September 2016 a district judge at Westminster Magistrates' Court ruled that Mr Love, who also suffers from a depressive illness and severe eczema, could be extradited, despite warnings from his family, lawyers and supporters about the state of his mental health.

The High Court appeal centred on that ruling made by District Judge Nina Tempia.

At the High Court hearing in November, Edward Fitzgerald QC, for Mr Love, submitted there were "overwhelming reasons of justice and humanity" why any trial should take place in the UK.

He argued it would be "unjust and oppressive" to extradite him because of his severe mental disorders.

Read More

Having identified a high risk of suicide, she "properly assessed whether and how that risk could be managed were the appellant to be extradited".

Emma Norton, head of legal casework for human rights organisation Liberty, which intervened in the case, said on Monday: "Where unlawful activity is alleged to have taken place in the UK, those suspected should be tried in the UK - not packed off to foreign courts and unfamiliar legal systems.

"This is especially important in cases of vulnerable people like Lauri Love.

"We are delighted that the court has today recognised Lauri's vulnerability, close family connections to the UK and the potentially catastrophic consequences of extraditing him.

"This was always a case that could have been prosecuted here and it's shameful that Lauri and his family have been put through this terrible ordeal."

You can keep up to date with all the latest news in and around Cambridge by downloading our free app. It is available for the iPhone and iPad from Apple's App Store, or the Android version can be downloaded from Google Play.